Drusilla Dunjee Houston Award

Call for Entries and Nominees

Sponsored by the Association of Black Women Historians (ABWH) to recognize emerging Black female scholars and foster scholarly research in Africana Women’s history.  Each year an award will be given for the best, unpublished original essay from either a graduate course or chapter from a thesis or dissertation for the 2012 award year. The essay must be wholly focused on some aspect of history on Black women from the U.S. and/or the Africana Diaspora.  The paper must involve interpretation of primary sources, focus on the ideas or actions initiated among Black women, and make a significant contribution to Africana women’s history.  The award will be presented at the 97^th Annual ASALH Convention in Pittsburgh, September 26-30, 2012.

Criteria: All entrants or nominees must be current ABWH female members of African descent and currently enrolled in a M.A. or Ph.D program at an institution either in the United States or Canada.  Nominations are also accepted from ABWH members who have identified a graduate student writing an exceptional paper or thesis/dissertation chapter.  

Prize: A $250 honorarium; a 2013 ABWH membership renewal; a complimentary registration to next year's 2013 ASALH annual meeting and ABWH luncheon; and publication of the winning essay in TRUTH. 

Conditions: Submit three copies of the history essay with an Entrant (or Nominee) form attached to each copy; Length: 7000-10000 words (28-40 pages), double-spaced including reference matters (notes, tables, charts, and bibliography).  For Graduate Essays include the name of the school, specific course, and instructor's contact information.  For Thesis/Dissertation History Chapters include the school's name and anticipated degree completion date.  Essays cannot be published works nor be under consideration for publication.  For further information, please contact Dr. Peggy Brooks-Bertram at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Deadline The application materials must be submitted by June 1, 2012 by Midnight.  Submission: Please send a copy of the essays and the entry form to each of the three members of the Prize Committee below:

Dr. Peggy Brooks-Bertram     This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Dr. Debra Green                  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Dr.  K. V. Mack-Shelton       10845 Sherwood Hill Rd.  Owings Mills, MD 21117.

Drusilla Dunjee Houston Award Nomination Forms ( fill-able pdf )